Automatic railway c-ate fo r grade crossings



Oct. 28 1924. 1,513,048

E. KOPELIOVITZ AUTOMATIC RAILWAY GATE FOR GRADE caossmes Fi led July 21 1924 s Sheets-Shoot 1 gwuwnlor Oct. 28 1924. 1.513.048

E. KOPELIOVITZ AUTOMATIC RAILWAY GATE FOR GRADE CROSSINGS ux-"med July 21 1924 a Shoots-Shut. a

gwoentoz Oct. 28. 1924. 1,513,048.. E. KOPELIOVITZ AUTOMATIC RAILWAY GATE FOR GRADE CROSSINGS Filed July 21 1924 3 SIZOOZNMf-3 Qwwntoz Patented Oct. 28, 1924.

UNITED STATES ELIA KOPELIOVITZ, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT.

AUTOMATIC RAILWAY GATE FO'R GRADE CROSSINGS.

Application filed July 21, 1924.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIA KOIELIOVITZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at WVaterbury, in the county of llew Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Automatic Railway Gate for Grade Cross ings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in automatic railway gates for grade crossings and has for its principal object to provide a simple and efficient means whereby the grade crossing will be closed upon the approach of a train, means being provided for automatically closing the grade crossing as the train approaches and passes the same, means being further provided for returning the gate to its normal position after the train has passed the grade crossing.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an automatic railway gate for grade crossings of the character above described wherein the gate structure is such as to permit the passage therethrough of a train, the gate being adapted to close the grade crossing from both sides of the rails.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an automatic railway gate for grade crossings which is simple in construction, inexpensive, strong and durable and furthermore adapted for the purposes for which it is designated.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved invention showing the gate structure in its normal position.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken approximately on line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fi re 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 6-6 of igure 3, and

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of the wiring and the circuit closing means.

Serial No. 727,259.

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the vertical supporting standards or posts for supporting the gate structure designated by the numeral 1. The same are preferably arranged adjacent the rails 2 and are also positioned on opposite sides of the grade crossing A. This construction is clearly illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. The posts or standards 1, any number of which may be provided as is desired, are of a suitable height and extending transverse across the inner side of the standards adjacent the tops thereof is the elongated bar 3, the inner edge of which is provided with the rack teeth 4. The rack teeth are preferably arranged on the inner edge of the bar 3 so as to extend over the grade crossing A in the manner more clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

The bar 3 is supported on the standards by means of the brackets 5 which are secured to the standards in any suitable manner. The brackets 5 also support the guide rail which is disposed below the bar 3 in parallel spaced relation thereto. This construction is clearly illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings.

The gate structure comprises frame designated generally by the numeral 7 and the same includes the spaced inverted U shaped end members 8 and 9 respectively. These inverted U-shaped members are spaced apart from each other and connecting the respective arms thereof are the gates 10. The gates preferably extend between the respective arms of the inverted U-shaped end members 8 and 9 respectively adjacent the lower free ends thereof and to brace the upper portions of the arms, the bracing members 11 are provided.

The inverted U-shaped members 8 and 9 are of such construction as to extend over the rails and spaced from the sides thereof as clearly illustrated in Figure 3 and furthermore the same are of such height as to permit the passage therethrough of a train, as well as allowing for the passage therethrough of a person standing on top of one of the cars of the train. The U-shaped members are preferably constructed of tubular material. In addition to the diagonally extending braces 11, a horizontally extending brace 12 is associated with the respective arms of each of the inverted U-shaped members adjacent the crown portion 13 thereof.

The arms of the inverted U-shaped members which are disposed adjacent the supporting standards or posts 1 have vertical extensions 1% extending from the ground portions of the U-shaped members and the extensions are braced through the medium of the bracing means 15. Each extension It has arranged thereon the bracket 16 and journaled on the brackets 16 are the spaced rollers 17 which travel on the guide rail 6 to permit the horizontal sliding movement of the gate structure in the manner hereinafter to be more fully described.

The arm 18 of which each of the inverted U-shaped members which is disposed adjacent the standards 1 is provided adjacent the lower free end thereof with the bracket 19 in which is journaled the roller 20 and the same cooperates with the guide rail 21 which extends transversely across the lower portions of the standards to further aid in guid ing the gate structure during its horizontal sliding movement.

The operating means for controlliiiig the sliding movement of the gate with respect to the grade crossing A comprises an electric motor designated generally by the numeral 22 and the same may be of any conventional construction. The motor is supported on the arm 18 of one of the inverted U-shapcd members preferably the one which is disposed adjacent the grade crossing. The drive shaft 23 of the motor 22 extends upwardly through the tubular arm 18 and through the extension l t formed on the upper portion thereof and carries on the extreme upper end the pinion 24 which meshes with the rack teeth 4 of the bar 3 in the manner clearly illustrated in Figure Any suitable source of current such as is illustrated at 25 is provided for starting the motor 22 and arranged in the same circuit are the trip levers 26 and 27 respectively. Each of the trip levers is arranged on a respective sideof the grade crossing A at a point a suitable distance away therefrom and are normally in the path of any suitable means carried by the train for operating the lever to close the circuit to the motor 22 in the manner to be presently described. Each lever carries the contacts 28 for cooperation with the stationary contact 29 and normally the contacts are held out of engagement with each other through the medium of a dash pot 30 of any well known construction. ASSO- ciated with the motor 2 is the reversing switch designated generally by the numeral 31. A trip arm 32 extends outwardly from the casing 33 of the reversing switch through an opening 31 provided therein and is asso-. ciated with the pivoted switch member 35 in the manner more clearly illustrated in Figure 6. The trip arm 32 is adapted to cooperate with the laterally extending members 36 and 37 respectively carried by the standards 1 which are arranged on opposite sides of the grade crossing A.

Carried by the guide rails 6 on opposite sides thereof and insulated therefrom through the medium of the insulation 38 are the conductor rails 39. A substantially U- shaped bracket 40 is supported and is carried by the extension 1% and the arms of the bracket have journaled thereon the conductor wheels 11 which engage the conductor rails 39 in the manner clearly shown in Figure 3. A casing l2 extends from the U- shaped bracket 40 to the reversing switch casing 33 and the wiring which is associated with the conductor wheels and the reversing switch extends therethrough.

The operation of my automatic railway gate may be briefly stated as follows: lVith the gate in position as shown in the drawings wherein the same does not close the grade crossing A, vehicles or the like may pass over the rails 2 at the grade crossing in a safe manner. Upon the approach of a train, a roller or the like such as is illustrated at 1-3 which in the present instance is carried by the cow-catcher 14 of the train will engage the trip lever 26, depressing the same and causing the contact 28 to engage the contact 29 whereby the circuit to the motor 22 is closed. This will simultaneously cause the shaft 23 to be rotated and further cause the pinion 24 carried by the upper ends thereof to engage the rack teeth 4.

and move the gate structure in the direction of the arrow so as to cause the gate 10 to be disposed across the grade crossing A closing the same and preventing any possibilityof a vehicle from passing thereover.

Simultaneously the trip arm 32 will be engaged by the lateral projection 37 cans ing the switch member 35 to be reversed and upon the roller 43 carried by the train coming in contact with the trip lever 27 whereby the circuit is again closed to the motor 22, the gate structurewill be returned to its normal position through the reverse rotation of the pin 24 and the cooperating rack teeth 1 of the bar 3. lVhen the ate structure has been returned to its normal position, the lateral projection 36 will engage the trip arm 32 and move the switch member 35 to the position shown in Figure 7 of the drawings so as to set the mechanism in an operative position for the next train. An overload cut out or cut off of any conventional construction such as is illustrated at 4th in the drawing with reference more particularly to Figure 7 is arranged in the circuit and as the purpose thereof is well known in the art, a further detailed description thereof is not thought necessary.

The tubular arm 18 of the inverted U- shaped member 9 is provided an exlit tension 46 and extending through the arm and the extension is the shaft 47. 4:8 is carried by the lower portion of. the shaft and is adapted for swingii. movement on vertical axis between tl arms of the inverted ii-suapcd member 9, the tubular arm 18 being cutaway as at 4:9 to permit the free swinging movement of the gate. A pinion 50 is carried by the upper end of the shaft 4-? and the same is adapted to mesh with the rack teeth 51 arranged on the bar at a point adjacent the rack teeth t in the manner to be presentl described. Normally when the gate 1 is in the position shown in the drawings, the auxiliary gate 48 extends across the arms of the inverted U-shaped member 9. hen the gate 1 is moved across the grade crossing and when the same almost entirely er:- tends across the grade crossing, the pinion 15 will engage the rack teeth 51 and as the gate continues to move across the crossing, the shaft 47 will be rotated causing the auxiliary gate 48 to be opened whereby the train may pass through the gate structure 1 without coming in contact with the auxiliary gate. As the gate 1 is returned to its normal position, the auxiliary gate l8 will also be returned to its normal position whereby the same will extend between the arms of the inverted U-shaped member 9. The purpose of the auxiliary gate 18 is to eliminate any possibility of a person being shut inside of the gate structure, either knowingly or unknowingly and therefore renders the protection more positive.

The provision of an automatic railway gate for grade crossing of the character shown and above described will at all times be positive and etiicient in its operation and the simplicity in which the various parts are assembled enables the same to be readily accessible at all times whenever necessary.

.VVhile I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. An automatic railway gate for grade crossings comprising a frame including spaced inverted U-shaped members, gates supported between the respective arms of said inverted U-shaped members on opposite sides of a pair of rails, supports for said frame adjacent the rails and on opposite sides of the crossing. said frame being adapted for horizontal sliding movement on said support.

2. An automatic railway gate for grade crossings comprising a frame including spaced inverted U-shaped members, gates supported 'etween the respective arms of said inverted U-shaped members on opposite sides of a pair of rails, supports for said frame adjacent the rails and on opposite sides or" the crossing, said frame being adapted for horizontal sliding movement on said support, means for electrically actuating said gate structure.

An automatic railway gate for grade crossings comprising a frame including spaced inverted U-shaped members, gates supported between the respective arms of sait inverted U-shaped members on opposite sides of a pair of rails, supports for said frame adjacent the rails and on opposite sides of the crossing, said frame being adapted for horizontal sliding movement on said support, means for electrically actuating said gate structure, and means for automatically returning the same to its normal position out of engagement with the grade crossing.

4. An automatic railway gate for grade crossings comprising in combination, vertical supporting standards arranged in spaced relation adjacent a pair of rails and on opposite sides of the grade crossing, a rack bar extending transversely across the upper portions of the standards, a gate structure comprising a frame including inverted U-shaped end members, gates extending between the respective arms of the inverted U-shaped end members, on the opposite sides of the rails, a shaft extending vertically through one of the arms of the U-shaped members adjacent said standards, a pinion on the upper end of said shaft for engagement with the rack bar, means for rotating said shaft and said pinions to move the gate structure into position over the grade crossing, and guide means associated with said standards and said U-shaped members.

5. An automatic railway gate for grade crossings comprising in combination, vertical supporting standards arranged in spaced relation adjacent a pair of rails and on opposite sides of the grade crossing, a rack bar extending transversely across the upper portions of the standards, a gate structure comprising a frame including inverted U-shaped end members, gates extending between the respective arms of the inverted U-shaped end members, on the opposite sides of the rails, a shaft extending vertically through one of the arms of the U-shaped members adjacent said standards, a pinion on the upper end of said shaft for engagement with the rack bar, and elec trically controlled means for rotating the shaft and pinion to actuate the gate structure, and guide means associated with the standards and the adjacent arms of the inverted U-shaped members.

6. An automatic railway gate for grade crossings comprising in combination, vertical supporting standards arranged in spaced relation adjacent pair of rails and on opposite sides of the grade crossing, a rack bar extending transversely across the upper portions of the standards, a gate structure comprising a frame including inverted Ushaped end members, gates extending between the respective arms of the inverted U-shaped end members, on the opposite sides of the rails, a shaft extending vertically through one of the arms of the U-shaped members adjacent said standards, a pinion on the upper end of said shaft for engagement with the rack bar, an electrically controlled means for rotating the shaft and pinion to actuate the gate structure, guide means associated with the standards and the adjacent arms of the inverted U-shaped members, and means for automatically returning the gate structure to its normal position out of engagement with the grade crossing.

7. An automatic railway gate for grade crossings, comprising a frame including spaced inverted U-shaped members, gates supported between the respective arms of said inverted U-shaped members on opposite sides of a pair of rails, supports for said frame adjacent the rails and on opposite sides of the crossing, said frame being adapted for horizontal sliding movement on said support, and an auxiliary gate associated with the inverted U-shaped member further from the crossing.

8. An. automatic railway gate for grade crossings comprising a frame including spaced inverted U-shaped members, gates supported between the respective arms of said inverted U-shaped members on opposite sides of a pair of rails, supports for said frame adjacent the rails and on opposite sides of the crossing, said frame being adapted for horizontal sliding movement on said support, an auxiliary gate normally extending across the arms of the inverted U-shaped member furthest from the crossing, and means for swinging the auxiliary gate to an open position When the frame extends over the grade crossing.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ELIA' KOPELIOVITZ. 

